Surgery – Endoscope – With camera or solid state imager
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-01
2001-07-17
Leubecker, John P. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Endoscope
With camera or solid state imager
C600S129000, C600S173000, C348S065000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261226
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to viewing devices in general, and more particularly to endoscopes and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Endoscopic viewing devices are well known in the art. In general, such devices are used to view the interior of limited access spaces such as body cavities, the interiors of complex machinery, etc. Endoscopic viewing devices generally comprise an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, and at least one internal passageway extending between the distal end and the proximal end. The shaft may be rigid or flexible, depending on the particular application involved. Image capturing means extend through the shaft's at least one internal passageway and are adapted to capture an image of a selected region located substantially adjacent to the distal end of the shaft, and to convey that image to a viewing device disposed at the proximal end of the shaft. In order to assist viewing, illumination means are also typically provided on the endoscope. The illumination means also extend through the shaft's at least one internal passageway and are adapted to project light onto the region to be viewed by the image capturing means.
The image capturing means commonly utilize one of several different arrangements to capture an image at the distal end of the shaft and to convey it to a viewing device located at the proximal end of the shaft.
In one arrangement, the image capturing means comprise a bundle of fiber optic filaments extending through the shaft's at least one internal passageway. An appropriate lens is positioned at the distal end of the shaft to focus the desired image onto the distal end of the fiber optic bundle. A conventional optical viewer or eyepiece is positioned at the proximal end of the shaft to receive the image conveyed to the proximal end of the fiber optic bundle. Alternatively, an appropriate image sensor, such as a charge coupled device (“CCD”) element or video tube, may be positioned at the proximal end of the shaft to receive the image conveyed to the proximal end of the fiber optic bundle. Wires then connect the image sensor to an adjacent viewing device.
In a second arrangement, the image capturing means comprise a CCD element disposed at the distal end of the shaft. An appropriate lens focuses the desired image onto the CCI) element's light-receiving surface, and wires extend through the shaft's at least one internal passageway to connect the endoscope's CCD element to a viewing device located adjacent to the proximal end of the shaft.
In a third arrangement, the image capturing means comprise a so-called rod-lens system. In this embodiment, a series of rod lens elements are arranged within the shaft's at least one internal passageway so as to capture the desired image at the distal end of the shaft and convey it to the proximal end of the shaft. A conventional optical viewer or eyepiece is positioned at the proximal end of the shaft to receive the image which is conveyed to the proximal end of the rod-lens system. Alternatively, an appropriate image sensor, such as a charge coupled device (“CCD”) element or video tube, may be positioned at the proximal end of the shaft to receive the image conveyed to the proximal end of the rod-lens system. Wires then connect the image sensor to an adjacent viewing device.
The illumination means commonly comprise apparatus for conveying light from a light source disposed at the proximal end of the shaft to an exit point located at the distal end of the shaft. For example, the illumination means frequently comprise a bundle of fiber optic filaments extending through the shaft's at least one internal passageway.
In practice, endoscopic viewing devices have taken on several common forms. More specifically, endoscopic viewing devices have been designed such that either (i) the image capturing means open onto the distal end of the shaft so as to face distally therefrom; (ii) the image capturing means open onto the distal end of the shaft so as to face outwardly therefrom at fixed or movable oblique angles; (iii) the image capturing means are disposed relative to the distal end of the shaft as set forth in categories (i) or (ii) above and the distal end of the shaft is itself deflectable relative to its longitudinal axis (i.e., the shaft is “steerable”); (iv) the image capturing means open onto the side wall of the shaft substantially adjacent to its distal end surface; or (v) the distal end of the shaft is affixed to a surgical instrument substantially adjacent to the working end of the surgical instrument.
Examples of endoscopes exhibiting the characteristics of the aforementioned category (i) are shown in the following U.S. patents:
U.S. Pat. No.
Issued
To
1,345,406
7/6/20
Rimmer
3,581,738
6/1/71
Moore
4,245,624
1/20/81
Komiya
4,419,987
12/13/83
Ogiu
4,445,892
5/1/84
Hussein et al.
4,461,283
7/24/84
Doi
4,606,330
8/19/86
Bonnet
4,617,915
10/21/86
Arakawa
4,641,912
2/10/87
Goldenberg
4,662,368
5/5/87
Hussein et al.
4,672,963
6/16/87
Barken
4,718,406
1/12/88
Bregman et al.
4,740,047
4/26/88
Abe et al.
4,770,653
9/13/88
Shturman
4,788,975
12/6/88
Shturman et al.
4,798,193
1/17/89
Giesy et al.
4,874,371
10/17/89
Comben et al.
4,887,600
12/19/89
Watson et al.
4,899,733
2/13/90
Decastro et al.
Still another example of an endoscope exhibiting the characteristics of the aforementioned category (i) is shown in Soviet Union Patent Document No. SU 1020-124-A dated Mar. 27, 1981.
All of the foregoing patents are incorporated herein by reference.
Examples of endoscopes exhibiting the characteristics of the aforementioned category (ii) are shown in the following U.S. patents:
U.S. Pat. No.
Issued
To
4,175,545
11/27/79
Termanini
4,418,688
12/6/83
Loeb
4,784,132
11/15/88
Fox et al.
4,800,876
1/31/89
Fox et al.
5,127,393
7/7/92
McFarlin et al.
All of the foregoing patents are also incorporated herein by reference.
Examples of endoscopes exhibiting the characteristics of the aforementioned category (iii) are shown in the following U.S. patents:
U.S. Pat. No.
Issued
To
3,886,933
6/3/75
Mori et al.
4,648,892
3/10/87
Kittrell et al.
4,669,467
6/2/87
Willett et al.
4,911,148
3/27/90
Sosnowski et al.
4,996,974
3/6/91
Clariei
5,083,549
1/28/92
Cho et al.
All of the foregoing patents are also incorporated herein by reference.
Examples of endoscopes exhibiting the characteristics of the aforementioned category (iv) are shown in the following U.S. patents:
U.S. Pat. No.
Issued
To
4,277,168
7/7/81
Oku
4,375,818
3/8/83
Suwaki et al.
4,699,463
10/13/87
D'Amelio et al.
4,905,667
3/6/90
Foerster et al.
More particularly, the Oku patent shows a side view endoscope which is designed to be rotated about its longitudinal axis by a pair of parallel, rigid wires which extend through the endoscope's shaft and are affixed to the distal end of the shaft. A first bundle of fiber optic filaments (i.e., the illumination means) conveys light from a light source located adjacent to the proximal end of the shaft to a first opening formed in the side wall of the shaft adjacent to its distal end surface. A second bundle of fiber optic filaments (i.e., the image capturing means) gathers an image from a mirror and lens arrangement disposed at a second opening located in the side wall of the shaft adjacent to the first opening, and conveys the same to a viewing device located at the proximal end of the shaft. The rotational position of the shaft is tracked relative to an outer sheath by third and fourth bundles of fiber optic filaments, which extend from the proximal end of the shaft to a third opening formed in the side wall of the shaft. The third opening is spaced proximally from the first and second openings and faces the interior of the outer sheath. The third bundle of fiber optic filaments is used to illuminate the portion of the outer sheath located adjacent to the shaft's third opening, and the fourth bundle of fiber optic filaments is used to view the portion of the outer sheath located adjacent to the shaft's third opening. Using the third and fo
Chen David T.
McKenna Michael A.
Pieper Steven D.
Robbie Peter J.
Rosen Joseph M.
Leubecker John P.
Medical Media Systems
Pandiscio & Pandiscio
LandOfFree
Electronically Steerable Endoscope does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electronically Steerable Endoscope, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electronically Steerable Endoscope will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2502751